At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the evolution of the Johnson Controls Business System across EMEA and drive continuous improvement.
- Company: Join a global leader in smart building technology with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, travel opportunities, and professional development in a dynamic environment.
- Other info: Opportunity for international travel and collaboration with senior executives.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by shaping operational excellence and driving sustainable performance improvements.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience in Lean leadership and proven success in transformation initiatives.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
We are seeking an experienced Senior Business System Leader to drive the evolution and deployment of the Johnson Controls Business System across the EMEA region. In this highly strategic role, you will partner closely with senior leadership to translate business strategy into execution, build organizational capability, and deliver sustainable, measurable performance improvements. As a coach of leaders and architect of system excellence, you will play a pivotal role in embedding Lean thinking, strengthening operational discipline, and building a culture of continuous improvement at scale.
How will you do it:
- Champion and continuously evolve the Johnson Controls Business System across the EMEA Domain.
- Partner closely with the Domain VP/GM to align business system deployment with strategic priorities or have end-to-end ownership of simplifying one of the Core Value Streams.
- Act as a system steward and cultural architect, driving consistency, rigor, and maturity across the Domain.
- Lead, coach, and develop a team of Business System Leaders, elevating both Lean expertise and leadership capability.
- Provide hands-on coaching in Kaizen leadership, structured problem solving, and performance delivery.
- Build a strong succession pipeline of high-performing BSL talent.
- Partner with Domain leadership to build, prioritize, and actively manage the Kaizen funnel aligned to strategic objectives.
- Ensure a robust pipeline of improvement initiatives that deliver high-value business impact.
- Drive execution discipline and hold teams accountable for value realization and outcomes.
- Establish and reinforce high standards for structured problem solving (A3 thinking, root cause validation, countermeasure effectiveness).
- Coach leaders to focus on root causes rather than symptoms, shifting from activity to impact.
- Conduct deep dives and reviews to ensure consistency, quality, and scalability of problem-solving practices.
- Translate strategy into action through effective action planning and Kaizen activation.
- Drive measurable outcomes across growth, productivity, margin, cash flow, and customer experience.
- Partner with senior leadership to identify opportunities and remove systemic barriers to execution.
- Ensure effective deployment of Daily Management systems, with clear linkage between KPIs, strategy, and improvement activity.
- Drive standardization of visual management, accountability routines, and escalation processes.
- Regularly assess and improve business system effectiveness and maturity.
- Ensure alignment of JCBS deployment across functions, regions, and value streams.
- Drive end-to-end value stream optimization, eliminating siloed improvements.
- Align digital transformation initiatives with Lean principles to avoid automating waste.
What we are looking for:
- Required:
- Extensive experience in Lean, Business System, or Operational Excellence leadership, ideally in a regional or enterprise scope.
- Proven track record of delivering sustained, measurable business impact in complex, matrixed organizations.
- Experience partnering with and influencing senior executives (VP/GM level and above).
- Demonstrated success leading large-scale transformation and capability-building initiatives.
- Strong track record in leading and developing leaders, with the ability to act as a coach of leaders.
- Exceptional stakeholder management with the ability to challenge and influence at senior levels.
- Strong strategic mindset combined with execution excellence and operational discipline.
- Preferred:
- Master’s degree in Business, Engineering, Operations, or a related field.
- Lean certifications such as Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or equivalent.
- Familiarity with digital transformation and analytics tools supporting operational excellence.
Please note: This position will require 50% international travel.
Senior Business System Leader (Continuous Improvement) (m/f/d) employer: Johnson Controls, Inc.
At Johnson Controls, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence. Our EMEA location offers a dynamic work environment where you can collaborate with senior leadership to drive impactful change while benefiting from extensive professional development opportunities and a strong focus on employee growth. Join us to be part of a team that values innovation, accountability, and the pursuit of excellence in every aspect of our operations.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Business System Leader (Continuous Improvement) (m/f/d)
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We think you need these skills to ace Senior Business System Leader (Continuous Improvement) (m/f/d)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Us Your Leadership Skills:In the corporate leadership and management field, it's essential to highlight your leadership experience. Use your CV to flesh out examples of how you've led teams to success or managed significant projects. We want to see specific instances where your actions made a tangible difference in your previous roles!
Quantify Your Achievements:Numbers talk, especially in management! When detailing your achievements in your CV or cover letter, don’t just say you improved team performance. Instead, say you boosted productivity by 30% over six months through effective strategy implementation. This makes your application pop and shows us what you can bring to Johnson Controls, Inc..
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to narrate your professional journey. We’re looking for motivation and a clear understanding of what corporate leadership means to you. Dive into your aspirations and how they align with the values and vision of Johnson Controls, Inc.. Make it personal – we want to get to know you!
Tailor Your CV for Management Roles:Ensure your CV reflects the management skills that are essential for this role. Focus on competencies like strategic planning, team building, and problem-solving. Use a clean layout, and don’t forget to align your experiences with those keywords mentioned in the job listing. This will help you stand out from the crowd!
How to prepare for a job interview at Johnson Controls, Inc.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
You’ll want to thoroughly convey your unique approach to leadership. During the interview with Johnson Controls, Inc., be ready to share real-life examples of how you've inspired and motivated teams in the past. Think about specific achievements that illustrate your strategic thinking and your ability to drive results.
✨Brush Up on Management Theories
Expect some technical questions related to management theories and practices. Brush up on concepts like transformational leadership, servant leadership, or situational leadership. Be prepared to discuss how you would apply these theories to the role at Johnson Controls, Inc., especially in the specific context of the challenges they’re currently facing.
✨Craft Your Vision for the Company
Since this is a full-time leadership role, spending time thinking about your vision for Johnson Controls, Inc. could really set you apart. Consider potential strategies for growth and how you would lead teams towards achieving them. This shows not just enthusiasm, but also strategic foresight that they’ll likely be looking for in a candidate.
✨Emphasise Team Dynamics and Culture
In corporate leadership, team dynamics and organisational culture are everything. Be ready to discuss how you've fostered a positive work environment in previous roles. Bring up examples of how you've managed diverse teams effectively—this will resonate well at Johnson Controls, Inc. as they’re likely seeking a candidate who can enhance their workplace culture.
